Keet heads the ‘keeper queue

ANGLING

Conditions: Sunny to partly cloudy, but delightful.

Rock and Surf: The central zone of KZN has seen some very nice fish coming out. The south coast has had a good run of kingfish. A live karanteen is a deadly bait for these fish. Meanwhile, fly fishing in the rivers is really picking up. The higher streams in the midlands are full up with trout both brown and rainbow. The Bushman’s river has been particularly kind to the fly guys with catch reports begging belief. For more info, visit kingfisher.co.za.

Weekly tip: The harbour is fishing very well for both the lure and the bait guys.

TIDES, WINDS, ETC: Sunrise: 5.08am; Sunset: 7.01pm; Temp: 22/28°C; Sea: 22.6°C; UV Risk: 12 (Extreme); Thunderstorms: 24%; Wind: 13km (ENE); Full Moon: January 21; Tides: Spring Tide (High); Low: 1.23am, 2pm (0.8pm); High: 7.58am, 20.02pm (1.5). Sea: 2.1m swell.

ATHLETICS

KZN Masters Athletics invite all athletes from the age 30+ to join them at their monthly mini meets, which take place each month on Saturday mornings. Enquiries: Caryn Loudon on Carynl@iafrica.com

CRICKET

January 22: Momentum One Day iinternational, South Africa vs Pakistan. Venue: Kingsmead Stadium. Time: 1pm. Enquiries: wardevents.co.za

February 9: Momentum One Day match, Hollywoodbets Dolphins vs Bizhub Highveld Lions. Venue: Kingsmead Stadium. Cost: Kids, R30; Adults, R40. Enquiries: ticketpros.co.za

February 13: Test match, SA vs Sri Lanka. Time 10am. Venue: Kingsmead Stadium. Enquiries: wardevents.co.za

March 10: Momentum One Day International, South Africa vs Sri Lanka: Time: 10am. Venue: Kingsmead Stadium. Enquiries: wardevents.co.za

Golf

February: 20, 21: Gooderson Drakensberg Gardens Gold & Spa Resort Ladies Golf Challenge. Reg: February 20. Enquiries: Wardevents.co.za

HIKING

Start the New Year on a different foot! Try hi king.

Today: Join the Durban Ramblers Hiking Club to hike Kloof Ramble. Grade: 2. Moderate: ±14km. An easy, scenic walk with lots of shade. Incorporating Memorial Park and Uve Road. Finish by lunch time. Park at Tina’s Hotel and stay for drinks after. Start: 7:30am. Enquiries: Jill Dunstone on 084 780 0818.

Today: Join the Durban Amblers hiking club to hike at 2pm to hike the Marianhill Monastery. Hike around the building and surrounding farm area and enjoy an introduction to the history of the Monastery. Tea and cream scones

January 18-20: Join the Durban Amblers Hiking Club to hike the Berg from Cobham. Rustic charm, good food, easy hiking and sleep in the big rustic farm house on Friday and Saturday night. Cost: Only 20 places at R440 pp for accommodation, food and travel. Enquiries: David on 072 615 0559.

January 19: Join the Durban Ramblers Hiking Club to hike Springside Nature Reserve (Hillcrest). Grade: 2, Easy. Moderate: ±7km. Hike across the grasslands south of the reserve before doing a few twists and loops in this delightful Nature Reserve (Springside Rd, Hillcrest). Cost: Donation R20. Meet at 1:15pm (early start as reserve closes early). Enquiries: Steve on 083 956 1556.

January 27: Join the Durban Amblers Hiking Club at 2pm on to hike the Highstakes. Take Cato Ridge exit (53) turn left and follow Highstakes 4x4 Track and store signs. Downhill splendour on the new clear trail then tea and famous chocolate cake afterwards or sundowners and dinner at the pub. Cost: R35. Hike fee includes tea and chocolate cake. Enquiries: David on 072 615 0559.

January 26: Join the Durban Ramblers Hiking Club to hike Burman Bush (Morningside). Grade 2, Moderate. Distance: ±8km (longish). Hike through Morningside to main gate in Burman St. Guard will accompany us as we do several loops of this gem in suburbia. Return past some stately residences. Park and meet at 1:45pm in Nimmo road between Jameson Park and Mitchel Park. Enquiries: Werner 084 206 7836.

January 27: Join the Durban Ramblers Hiking Club for a South Coast Surprise. Grade 2, Moderate. Distance: ±12 km. New recce hike from Anne. Some road, some beach and some tracks, (no cane). Drinks after at Happy Wanderers (Kelso). Meet Glenwood Centre for lift. Sharing to leave latest 6:30am. Start 7:30am from the Happy Wanderers car park (just before Pennington). Cost: R50 petrol sharing 4x up. Enquiries: Anne Wilson 079 850 0206.

RUNNING

January 20: Kearsney Striders Half Marathon, Kearsney College. Entries close January 17, Bothas Hill. Type: 21km run, 10km run/walk. Kearsney Striders. Enquiries: Jennifer Rigby, 083 531 9417 or purposedriven@telkomsa. net

January 23: Imperial Nissan Crusaders Running Club. Type: 6km fun night run/walk. Start/finish: Colleagians Bowling Club – Blue Lagoon. Starts: 6pm. Pre-entry Costs: Adults, R70; Kids U16 R30. Enquries: wardevents.co.za and roag.co.za

January 27: PDAC. Type: 25km. Venue: Watercrest Mall. Time: 5pm. Enquiries: Gregg Patterson on 061 7384.

February 3: DG Panel & Paint Challenge. Barns Road Rugby Grounds, Sydenham. Type: 32km run, 16 km run/walk. Sydenham Sports Club. Enquires: Anita Johannes on 084 254 2468 or anita.giquel@gmail.com

February 9: Nongoma Mayoral Race. Kwamusi Sports Ground, Nongoma. Type: 28km, 10km walk /run. Nongoma AC. Enquiries: Mphathisene Manqele on 076 095 5469 or sdufortune@gmail.com

SURFSKI

January 18, 25, February 1,8,12,22 and March 1,8, 15: Surfski Series. Venue: Marine SLC. Start: 5.30pm. Type: Long Course 8km; short Course 4km. Cost: R100. Enquiries: marineseries.co.za

TRAIL RUNNING January 27: Gilboa Challenge. Type: 4km. Water tables: 1 on route. Easy route meandering through indigenous forests surrounding Bushwillow Campsite.

Enquiries: kzntrailrunning.co.za BIDVEST Wits goal-minder Darren Keet is favourite to take over from the injured Itumeleng Khune when Bafana Bafana lock horns with Libya in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Bafana need a point to book their ticket to Egypt, while Libya need maximum points to qualify for Afcon.

The nations square off on March 23 in Egypt. They shared the spoils in the first leg at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Khune has been ruled out for six months after sustaining a shoulder injury.

Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has been consistent with his selection in the goalkeeping department but an injury to Khune will force him to call a replacement for the country’s incumbent shot-stopper.

Ronwen Williams is likely to earn another call-up and is set to deputise for Keet between the sticks.

The big question is who will be FOOTBALL REPORTER

KAIZER Chiefs will enter the lions’ den that is Levy Mwanawasa Stadium this afternoon with a few lions of their own – lions who know how to survive the eat-or-be-eaten nature of continental football.

Those lions, Leonardo Castro, pictured, argues, will need to utilise all their experience to help Amakhosi not only get past Zesco United but also win the CAF Confederation Cup.

The Zambian side host Chiefs in the first leg of the Confederation Cup play-offs before they visit FNB Stadium this coming Saturday for the return leg with a place in the group stage up for grabs.

Chiefs haven’t reached the group stage of this competition. They also haven’t won a trophy in the last three seasons.

Despite that, Castro has set himself the target of not only winning the Absa Premiership with Amakhosi but also winning the Confederation Cup.

He knows what it takes to win the continental title. He was part of the Mamelodi Sundowns team that won the 2016 CAF Champions League. That victory took a herculean effort, forcing the Brazilians to bring out the lions in themselves to devour the continent’s big dogs.

“This tournament requires you to fight,” Castro said. “This is a fight! Sometimes you go away and play on bad pitches but you still have to get a result. There are a lot of challenges in this competition. It is not easy.”

Levy Mwanawasa Stadium isn’t one of those bad pitches. The stadium in Ndola has world class facilities.

Khama Billiat, Castro’s partner up front, knows how this stadium sounds in full voice and he also knows how to silence it. The Zimbabwean forward scored the goal that silenced this venue in 2016 in Sundowns’ 2-1 loss. That the third goalkeeper.

The battle is among Siyabonga Mpontshane of Orlando Pirates, Amazulu’s Siyabonga Mbatha and Nkosingiphile Gumede of Lamontville Golden Arrows.

Baxter doesn’t have a lot of options. Most teams in the Premier Soccer League boast foreigners in their goalkeeping departments.

Defending league champions Mamelodi Sundowns have Denis Onyango from Uganda and

Kennedy Mweene from Zambia, while Cape Town City possess Peter Leeuwenburg (from Holland).

Polokwane City have Zimbabwean George Chigova in their last line of defence and Maritzburg United rely on Richard Ofori from Ghana.

Tapuwa Kapini commands the number one position for Highlands Park and Free State Stars have shown faith in Badra Ali Sangare of Ivory Coast, while Baroka FC have found their new hero in Elvis Chipezeze from Zimbabwe.

So Baxter will have to look at Mpontshane, Gumede and Mbatha away goal inspired the Brazilians to wrap up the tie in the home leg and book a place in the group stage.

Chiefs will be looking for a similar showing, but the Zambians are a tough nut to crack. They take the game to their opponents and attack them with speed.

They play possession-based football under coach George Lwandamina. Fighters like Billiat, Castro and Willard Katsande, who will return to the starting XI, will need to bring their A games if Amakhosi are to return with a positive result.

“Some of the players have experience of playing international tournaments,” Castro said.

“It’s not easy. Kaizer Chiefs now take this tournament seriously which means with the good and experienced players we have, we can make history with this club.

“We (as the experienced players) have shared our experience with the younger players and those who LEEDS United have reminded head coach Marcelo Bielsa of the “integrity and honesty” the club is built on after the Argentine admitted sending one of his coaching staff to spy on Derby County ahead of their Championship match on Friday. to complete his goalkeeping department, which is likely to be led by Keet.

Keet has been consistent this season for Wits. He has conceded the least number of goals after 17 matches. Keet has let in 12 goals and has kept eight clean sheets and will head into Bafana camp brimming with confidence.

Keet is also experienced, having played in the Afcon and in continental competitions for the Clever Boys.

Bafana have conceded one goal in the Afcon qualifiers. They have kept four clean sheets in five matches and will need one of those if they are serious about going to Egypt.

Bafana are second with nine points after five games, one point behind the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who have already secured their place in Egypt.

Bafana missed out on the last Afcon in Gabon and will be looking to make it this time around in Egypt, especially after failing to book a place in the World Cup in Russia last year. haven’t played in these competitions. “We have talked about the referees in away games.

“It’s very, very bad. So we need to score as much as we can in the first leg because you’ll never know what will happen in the return game.”

Chiefs prepared well for this clash with two tough matches against Sundowns and Bidvest Wits, while the fringe players took part in a training match against German side Werder Bremen. Some of those fringe players, like Siphelele Ntshangase, could get a run as Amakhosi juggle competing on three fronts.

The presence of a new coach, Ernst Middendorp, will drive Amakhosi to make history with each player wanting to impress the German.

“In terms of training sessions, he (Middendorp) has got the structure for the players to follow on the field,” said Castro, who was critical of former coach Giovanni Solinas’s tactical acumen. “That makes a lot of difference.”